Microbiological desulfurization of gases
US4760027A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 9, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jul 26, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 9, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A50/20
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
There is disclosed a method for desulfurizing gases by microbiological techniques which involve the use of chemoautotrophic bacteria of the Thiobacillus genus to convert sulfides to sulfates either as a sulfide removal process or as a process for producing biomass. More specifically, the invention involves the use of Thiobacillus denitrificans under aerobic conditions to oxidize sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide to sulfate compounds. The process may be carried out by various techniques such as in a continuous bioreactor system using an immobilization matrix. The method is particularly suited to the disposal of hydrogen sulfide which has been otherwise removed from natural gas and producing a biomass byproduct.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.